Kapil Sibal slams removal of Jantar Mantar's protest-site status

Kapil Sibal criticised the removal of Jantar Mantar's designation as a protest site. He expects the Supreme Court to safeguard the constitutional right to protest.Image used for representational purposes onlyNewdelhi,Oct 17, 2026 15:50 ISTRajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has criticised the Modi government for removing Jantar Mantar's status as a protest site, claiming that protesting had become a "crime" in the country. He expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would protect people's right to protest, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The Independent MP and senior advocate also claimed that people had lost faith in the government because of high unemployment, economic difficulties and reduced public investment. He said the sooner the government left office, the better it would be for the country."We are in a situation where protest has become a crime. In other words, the right to protest has become a crime, even though the right to protest is a fundamental right in our country. But it's no longer a fundamental right," Sibal said at an online press conference.Questioning the decision to remove Jantar Mantar's designation as a protest site, Sibal said people could now demonstrate at Ramlila Maidan, but the ongoing Dussehra festivities would make it impossible to hold protests there. "Why should I have to go to Ramlila Maidan when I had a protest site, and why should you have cancelled it?" he asked. According to PTI, Sibal alleged that violence during an earlier protest at Jantar Mantar had been caused by outsiders. He claimed that a truck carrying stones had been brought to the site without explanation. He also alleged that unidentified people and police personnel in plain clothes had committed violence, while protesters were dragged and subjected to a lathi charge and women were assaulted.Sibal further alleged that transport services were restricted during protests, including through the suspension of Metro services and curbs on trains entering Delhi. Citing examples from other countries, he said cities such as New York, London and Paris had designated spaces in central areas where people could demonstrate near key government institutions."Within New York City, you can protest at Union Square or Greenwich Village. And this is at the centre of the city. If it's London and you want to protest against Parliament or any legislation, you have Parliament Square itself next to Parliament, Speaker's Corner at Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, or outside Downing Street at Whitehall. In France, out of several sites in the centre of Paris, you have the Bastille, the Concorde, Trocadro — all in the centre of Paris," he said.Asking why India should be an exception, Sibal accused the government of promoting democratic values abroad while restricting freedom of speech at home. "That's what you say — that we are Vishwaguru, that our democratic traditions are a beacon for the rest of the world. That's what you go outside the country and talk of — diversity and freedom of speech — whereas you throttle it within the country," he said.Warning the government, Sibal said, "The pressure cooker is going to burst one of these days, and it's going to be all your fault."Referring to Article 19(1) of the Constitution, he said the right to protest was subject to reasonable restrictions on grounds including state security and public order. He maintained that earlier demonstrations at Jantar Mantar had been peaceful and claimed that "Jantar Mantar 2.0", planned for October 10, would also have been peaceful.Sibal noted that a procession taken out by Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc partners towards the Supreme Court had passed without violence. He questioned why young people seeking to protest were being treated differently and what threat such demonstrations posed to the state."There is no danger to the State. What is in danger is the continuation of this government, because this government has lost its credibility in the eyes of the people," he said, again attributing public discontent to unemployment, economic difficulties and reduced public investment.Sibal told PTI that he was confident the Supreme Court would protect people's right to protest, claiming that the government had not been able to "capture" the court.He also alleged that the voters' list had been manipulated in 2024 because electoral systems were centralised and questioned the government's support for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar."The reason why Gyanesh Kumar is so dear to them is that if Gyanesh Kumar resigns or is dismissed in whatever way, we will know exactly who gave the orders for Gyanesh Kumar to do what he was doing. I think that the voters' list was also manipulated in 2024 because systems were centralised," Sibal said.In summary, Sibal criticised the removal of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, alleged restrictions and violence against demonstrators, and said he expected the Supreme Court to safeguard the constitutional right to protest.- Ends